The 2024/25 campaign has not gone to plan for Darwin Nunez at Liverpool.
Since Nunez arrived from Benfica during the summer of 2022, the Uruguayan has failed to impress consistently at Anfield with the striker often showing that he is still not fully polished.
Nunez would often bring moments of chaos within Jurgen Klopp’s style of play but lacks composure in front of goal, often makes bad decisions in the final third and has a tendency to run offside.
Fans have become frustrated with these flaws in recent months but the arrival of Arne Slot provided the 25-year-old with a fresh slate to impress.
That has not gone to plan for the Uruguay international as the player has taken a step backwards and Jamie Carragher thinks Nunez will not be at Liverpool next season as a result.
Nunez came off the bench to score an injury-time brace to help Liverpool defeat Brentford 2-0 on Saturday and following this huge moment for the striker, the former Benfica star has set a goal for the remainder of the current campaign.
- READ MORE: Arne Slot issues ‘challenge’ to Darwin Nunez ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League tie vs Lille
Darwin Nunez ready to fight for his Liverpool future
Amid his struggles at Anfield, Nunez has been linked with a transfer to Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, although no Saudi Pro League clubs have made an official move for the striker.
The Athletic’s James Pearce has addressed this speculation, reporting that the Reds have not received any bids for Nunez and that the Premier League leaders are not looking to off-load the forward in January.
With a contract on Merseyside until 2028, the Liverpool journalist admitted that Nunez is determined to stay at Liverpool and his goal for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign is to fight for his place in Slot’s team and get himself more minutes.
Nunez’s brace against Brentford was only his fifth and sixth goals of the season with the Uruguay star producing that number of strikes within 27 appearances, alongside four assists.
Saturday’s events may help the 25-year-old’s case to remain at Liverpool next season, but the striker has stiff competition ahead of him.
- READ MORE: Darwin Nunez sets new Premier League record after last-minute winner for Liverpool against Brentford
Darwin Nunez has a tough job to impress Arne Slot at Liverpool
With his goal set out, Nunez will have a tough time achieving it as the striker’s role is unlikely to change as he is likely to remain a rotation player for the remainder of the campaign.
Although Diogo Jota’s new injury will increase the 25-year-old’s chances of playing, Slot is pretty settled on his front three of Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah; and with the trio consistently showing up for the Dutch coach, Nunez will not be given a large number of minutes to show what he can do.
Slot wants his number nine to be directly involved in goals and Nunez falls short of Diaz in several metrics, who the forward is in direct competition with.
The Colombian has an expected goals rate of 6.12, has had 25 shots on goal this season, created 27 chances for teammates and has a pass accuracy of 86.9%.
In comparison, Nunez has an expected goals rate of 3.27, has had 44 shots on goal this season, created just six chances for teammates and has a pass accuracy of 69.8%. Although the stats are skewed by the Uruguayan having fewer minutes on the pitch, it shows that the 25-year-old should be doing better.
The striker will have to pounce on any opportunities he gets to impress his boss and his goals at Brentford may help fuel his ambition to achieve this.
It seems that Nunez is on his last life at Liverpool and in order to save his career at Anfield, the Uruguayan star has to show up when called upon throughout this crucial part of the season.
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